What Do Bala Sharks Eat? The Best Food Reviewed 2023

Deciding on the right food for your Bala shark is important. They grow to be a very large fish, upwards of 12 inches (30 centimeters) or more, which makes proper nutrition as they develop very important.

So let’s look at what they eat in the wild and how to best recreate that in an aquarium setting.

Quick Overview

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Bala Sharks in the Wild

This species is native to the rivers and lakes of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. 

In their natural environment, Bala sharks eat an omnivorous diet made up of insects and their larvae, small crustaceans as well as some algae and other plant material. 

Bala Sharks in the Aquarium

So, we’ve established that Bala sharks need a varied, omnivorous diet. Now let’s talk about what kinds of food 

Pelleted Food

Since insects and their larvae make up such a large portion of a Bala shark’s diet in the wild, Fluval Bug Bites would be a great choice for their staple food. 

The main ingredient of Bug Bites is black soldier fly larvae, an excellent source of protein.

Make sure you check the size of the pellets before you order so you don’t get food that’s either too big or too small for your fish.

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Another high quality pelleted food is Omega One Super Color; it features whole fish as the main ingredient, which provides the protein punch Bala sharks need.

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Flake Foods

Bala sharks will also gladly gobble up flake foods. 

Just be sure to double check the ingredients list. 

Some major name brands, such as TetraMin, use garbage ingredients like generic fish meal and grain fillers. I recommend researching what’s in a fish food before you buy it.

Personally, I think Omega One Freshwater Flakes are the best on the market. They use salmon, whole herring and whole shrimp as the main ingredients and they include plant food sources like kelp and spirulina. 

You’d have to make your own fish food to do better than that, in my opinion. 

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Frozen and Live Foods

Frozen bloodworms are always a favorite with these fish. They provide a good amount of protein and Bala sharks will love them.

California blackworms are a great live food that you can order online. They’re an aquatic species related to the common earthworm. They are also rich in protein that is easily digested by fish.

Daphnia (aka water fleas) are tiny crustaceans, very similar to what Bala sharks would eat in the wild. They can be found as a frozen food, or you can culture them yourself as a live food.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that is an extremely healthy addition to your fish’s diet. 

It’s packed with vitamins and protein, making it a great plant-based addition to your fish’s diet. 

I particularly like Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp. It includes chunks of spirulina along with freeze dried brine shrimp. 

This makes a great supplement that you can feed a few times a week.

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Variety is Important 

One of the best things you can do is offer your Bala sharks a varied diet. In nature, fish eat whatever they can come across, so they eat a huge variety of things.

Just like humans, fish need to eat a lot of different foods so they can get all the different nutrients their bodies need.

It’s best to rotate around several different foods each week so they can eat a balanced diet. 

Luckily, Bala sharks aren’t picky eaters and will readily accept most types of food. So you shouldn’t have a hard time getting them to eat the foods you pick out for them.

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API